After a ten-month absence from official tournaments, Tiger Woods is finally making his highly anticipated comeback to the PGA Tour at the Genesis Invitational in Pacific Palisades, California. Woods had to retire from The Masters last April due to injury, making this event his first official tournament since the 2023 Genesis Invitational.
All eyes will be on Woods as he joins 69 other players, including ten of the world’s best eleven golfers. The tournament, which is supported by Woods’ foundation, will take place at Riviera Country Club, where Woods made his debut on the PGA Tour as an amateur back in 1992.
It’s worth noting that, apart from the Hero World Challenge, Woods hasn’t completed 72 holes on the PGA Tour since the 2023 Genesis Invitational. Additionally, he has never won this particular competition, finishing in second place in both 1998 and 1999.
In 2021, while in the Los Angeles area following the Genesis Invitational, Woods was involved in a serious car accident in Ranchos Palos Verdes, which put his life and career at risk. This marks a fresh start for Woods, as he will be sporting TaylorMade’s “Sun Day Red” brand, ending his 27-year collaboration with Nike.
Woods will have a new caddy, Lance Bennett, who has previously worked extensively with Matt Kuchar and is currently engaged with Adrien Dumont de Chassart. During the first two rounds, Woods will be paired with Justin Thomas and Gary Woodland. The tournament will feature numerous other top-ranked players.
The Genesis Invitational will also serve as a battle for the world ranking throne, with Scottie Scheffler defending his position and Rory McIlroy attempting to reclaim it. Woods’ main goal will be to make the cut, but his ultimate dream is to secure his 83rd career victory on the PGA Tour, a feat that has never been achieved before.
In 2014, Woods became the first athlete in the world to surpass one billion dollars in earnings from victories and sponsorships. He was later surpassed by Michael Jordan, and his estimated wealth as of 2023 stands at 1.8 billion dollars, making him the second highest-paid athlete in history. In 2019, he was honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom by US President Donald Trump, the highest civilian award in the United States.
According to the Source tennisworldusa.org